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Welcome to the members only part of the website of The Arthur Ransome Society
Arthur Ransome was the celebrated author of the 12 “Swallows and Amazons” stories – written for young people of all ages. But he was much more: bohemian, media correspondent during the Russian Revolution, spy?, sailor, fisherman, pipe smoker…
The Society exists to celebrate his life and to promote his interests in exploring, camping, sailing, navigation, leadership, literature and much more.
This page contains Latest Updates and Contact Addresses
Latest updates:
Swallows and Amazons’ boat to attend its own screening
‘Amazon’, the traditional sailing dinghy that features alongside Swallow in the classic film Swallows and Amazons will be on display outside the Riverside Cinema, Woodbridge, this Saturday, 13 July, when the film, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is being screened at 2pm. As well as celebrating the anniversary, the event – organised by TARS East – is aiming to raise funds for the restoration of the two boats.
Based on Arthur Ransome’s book of the same name, Swallows and Amazons is a tale of juvenile rivalry between the crews of the Swallow and the Amazon, on and around an island in the Lake District, and the boats have become stars in their own right – Swallow was recently valued at around £25,000 when she turned up on Antiques Roadshow.
Both of the boats were recently acquired by the Arthur Ransome Society, and are in need of some renovation. The work is being carried out by Hunter’s Yard on the Norfolk Broads, where Amazon is already available to hire (details at arthur-ransome.org/sail or 01692 678263).
It’s not the first time one of the boats has attended a screening of the film – in 2025 Swallow came and the cinema sold out two showings.
Sophie Neville, who played Titty, kept a diary and later used it as the basis for a book, ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons, which will be available to buy at the screening.
Additional information: Peter Willis,07979 721901 peterwillis1144@gmail.com
Cinema website the riverside.co.uk
Our president will be co-presenting “The Big Steam Adventure” and we believe a reference to TARS will be made in episode 2.
When renewing your account: ensure that you go to “Existing Members” and select your appropriate membership renewal to avoid creating a new account.
–December / January editions of Furthest South and Signals available in Publications.
The Renewing Memberships help file https://feel.construction/arthurransomesociety/members/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/For-all-members-to-read.docx Please read this to help the volunteers who manage the membership.
-The developing Sail Swallow and Amazon story can be seen in https://arthur-ransome.org/sail/ . We now own both boats and need to raise a substantial amount of money to restore the boats to hireable standard so they can earn their keep. Please give generously!
-The voice recording of the recent talk given for SW Region by Alan Kennedy on Ransome’s award of a MA at Durham University and why he walked out of the ceremony is now available to listen to on the Southwestern Region’s page.
–Important – The Library has moved, so if you want or have books please wait until Christine has got the books on the shelves and can service your needs.
View our Facebook Feed here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/762560473886537
This is the Private group for TARS members only. Its privacy means that you can post such things as asking for lift shares, or floating the idea of a group holiday in the knowledge that only members are seeing the post.
The one on the Public pages is the public Arthur Ransome Group one, which has interesting threads of opinion about AR and the books, and the odd AR quiz, but is open to anyone.
The design team decided that as the AR Facebook sites are well used and well moderated it would be an unnecessary duplication to provide a blog. This is your site, so if you have an opinion about development, please email the webmaster webmaster@arthur-ransome.org or tell your Regional Rep on the board.
Events Highlights:
How to contact TARS
UK Region’s officers go to Regions page
Write to the registered office address or the Secretary/Coordinator for your area, both for overseas (if a country not listed below) and UK Regions
Registered Office:
The Arthur Ransome Society Ltd, Abbot Hall Museum, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 5AL
ENGLAND.
NB For 2020 until further notice please avoid using this address as they are closed for refurbishment and there may be delays in forwarding mail.
Company Secretary
Email tarsinfo@arthur-ransome.org
John Pearson Mas d’en Clarimon, Route de Paloll à la Selva, F-66400 CERET, France
Website admin: webmaster@arthur-ransome.org
Membership secretary: memsec@arthur-ransome.org
David Middleton, 9 Merrow Avenue, Poole, Dorset BH12 1PY
Board Members: See Signals
Publications contacts. Your copy should be addressed as follows:
Signals: address your copy to your regional editor or chairman, or signals@arthur-ransome.org
Mixed Moss: mixedmoss@arthur-ransome.org
The Outlaw: outlaw@arthur-ransome.org
Please bear in mind when waiting for a response that the Society is entirely staffed by volunteers and replies may take a while to reach you.